INTERNATIONAL LAW OF THE SEA EXPERT FOR AUCKLAND FORUM

1 November 2000

An expert on the Law of the Sea, Ambassador Satya Nandan, will open an international Forum on the problem of the incidental capture of seabirds, which starts in Auckland on Monday (6 November 2000).

The International Fishers Forum is jointly hosted by the Seafood Industry Council, Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation, and the Forum will involve fishers, scientists and government representatives from countries with longlining fleets.

Ambassador Satya Nandan is Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority and has a distinguished background. He served as Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Law of the Sea from 1983-1992. He has lectured and written extensively on the Law of the Sea, and chaired the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks from 1993 to 1995.

Conference spokesperson Mike O'Donoghue (Department of Conservation marine specialist) said Forum organisers were delighted Ambassador Satya Nandan was to speak at the Forum, and had committed to attend the Forum for its duration, 6-9 November.

"This is a mark of how important the subject of the Forum is," he said.

"The incidental capture of seabirds concerns everyone, from fishers to scientists to the general public, and it's vitally important to develop techniques and tools to prevent it."

The International Fishers Forum will bring people together to discuss the issues, exchange practical information, and develop a set of tools that could help fishers world-wide minimise the incidental capture of seabirds.

Ambassador Nandan's address will provide an international perspective on the development of a co-ordinated approach to the issue of incidental seabird capture. Other speakers will include albatross researchers, fishers, technical experts and fishing company managers.

Fishers will present overviews of their fisheries, report on mitigation methods tested on their vessels and contribute ideas on what operational aspects of longline fishing need to be taken into consideration when developing new mitigation measures.

Countries which have confirmed attendance are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, People's Republic of China, Falkland/Malvinas Islands, France, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Uruguay and the USA, including Alaska and Hawaii.

For further information please contact
Mike O'Donoghue, DoC
Phone 021 870 310